Oil sump and axle carrier with an oblique flange face

Abstract

An oil sump and an axle carrier of an internal combustion engine in a vehicle having obliquely inclined flange faces for fastening to one another. The flange faces being obliquely inclined relative to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle or a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An oil sump for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, comprising a first flange face for a first mechanical connection of the oil sump to a corresponding flange face of a front axle carrier of the vehicle and a second flange face for a second mechanical connection of the oil sump to the internal combustion engine, wherein the first flange face of the oil sump is inclined obliquely at least partially relative to a horizontal direction of the vehicle. 
     
     
       2. The oil sump according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of
 the first flange face of the oil sump is at least partially not at a right angle with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction, 
 the first flange face of the oil sump is at least partially not parallel to a flange face between a flywheel housing and a transmission of the vehicle, 
 the first flange face of the oil sump is at least partially not parallel to a flange face between the flywheel housing and the internal combustion engine, 
 the first flange face of the oil sump is at least partially not at a right angle with respect to the second flange face, and 
 the first flange face of the oil sump is at least partially not at a right angle with respect to an axis of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. 
 
     
     
       3. The oil sump according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of
 the first flange face of the oil sump is at least partially with an oblique inclination with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction, 
 the first flange face of the oil sump is at least partially with an obtuse angle with respect to a flange face between a flywheel housing and a transmission of the vehicle, 
 the first flange face of the oil sump is at least partially with an obtuse angle with respect to a flange face between the flywheel housing and the internal combustion engine, 
 the first flange face of the oil sump is at least partially with an oblique inclination with respect to the second flange face, and 
 the first flange face of the oil sump is at least partially with an oblique inclination with respect to an axis of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. 
 
     
     
       4. The oil sump according to  claim 1 , wherein a vertical longitudinal cross-section of the oil sump is one of:
 substantially triangular in the longitudinal section along a vehicle longitudinal direction, or 
 substantially trapezoidal in the longitudinal section along the vehicle longitudinal direction. 
 
     
     
       5. The oil sump according to  claim 1 , wherein a vertical longitudinal cross-section of the oil sump has a substantially triangular section and a substantially rectangular section in a longitudinal section along a vehicle longitudinal direction, the substantially triangular section and the substantially rectangular section of the oil sump being arranged one behind another in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and
 the first flange face of the oil sump is arranged on an underside of the substantially triangular section. 
 
     
     
       6. The oil sump according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first flange face of the oil sump has two fastening regions, 
 the two fastening regions of the first flange face of the oil sump are arranged laterally next to one another with regard to a vehicle longitudinal direction and are spaced apart from one another, and 
 the oil sump includes a portion protruding downwards between the two fastening regions of the first flange face of the oil sump. 
 
     
     
       7. The oil sump according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the first flange face of the oil sump is inclined with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction by an angle of inclination (α) of more than 5° and less than 80°, 
 the first flange face of the oil sump is inclined rearwards with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction, 
 the first flange face of the oil sump extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction substantially over the entire length of the oil sump, and 
 the first flange face of the oil sump extends from an upper side of the oil sump as far as an underside of the oil sump. 
 
     
     
       8. The oil sump of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first flange face of the oil sump has a step along a vehicle longitudinal direction, and 
 the step forms a clearance between the oil sump and the axle carrier, for receiving 
 a steering cylinder, 
 a liquid container, 
 a run-on wedge, 
 a ballast body, or 
 an electronic component. 
 
     
     
       9. An axle carrier for a vehicle having a flange face for a mechanical connection of the axle carrier to a corresponding flange face of an oil sump of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, wherein the flange face of the axle carrier is inclined obliquely at least partially relative to a horizontal direction, the axle carrier being separate from the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
       10. The axle carrier according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of
 the flange face of the axle carrier is at least partially not at a right angle with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction, 
 the flange face of the axle carrier is at least partially not parallel to a flange face between a flywheel housing and a transmission of the vehicle, 
 the flange face of the axle carrier is at least partially not parallel to a flange face between the flywheel housing and the internal combustion engine, 
 the flange face of the axle carrier is at least partially not at a right angle with respect to a flange face between the oil sump and a crankcase of the internal combustion engine, and 
 the flange face of the axle carrier is at least partially not at a right angle with respect to an axis of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. 
 
     
     
       11. The axle carrier according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of:
 the flange face of the axle carrier is at least partially with an oblique inclination with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction, 
 the flange face of the axle carrier is at least partially with an obtuse angle with respect to a flange face between a flywheel housing and a transmission of the vehicle, 
 the flange face of the axle carrier is at least partially with an obtuse angle with respect to a flange face between the flywheel housing and the internal combustion engine, 
 the flange face of the axle carrier is at least partially with an oblique inclination with respect to a flange face between the oil sump and a crankcase of the internal combustion engine, and 
 the flange face of the axle carrier is at least partially with an oblique inclination with respect to an axis of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. 
 
     
     
       12. The axle carrier of  claim 9 , wherein
 the flange face of the axle carrier has two fastening regions which lie next to one another, the axle carrier being one of U-shaped, V-shaped or annularly closed in plan view, being corrugated or being connected to crossmembers, and 
 a clearance lies between the fastening regions of the flange face of the axle carrier for receiving a portion of the oil sump that protrudes downwards into the clearance. 
 
     
     
       13. The axle carrier according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of:
 the flange face of the axle carrier is inclined by an angle of inclination (α) of more than 5° and less than 80°, 
 the flange face of the axle carrier is inclined rearwards with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction, and 
 the flange face of the axle carrier is substantially larger than a cross-sectional area of the axle carrier at a right angle with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction on a front side of the oil sump. 
 
     
     
       14. The axle carrier according to  claim 9 , wherein the flange face of the axle carrier has a step in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and
 the step forms a clearance between the oil sump and the axle carrier for receiving one of 
 a steering cylinder, 
 a liquid container, 
 a run-on wedge, 
 a ballast body, or 
 an electronic component. 
 
     
     
       15. The axle carrier according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a seat for a steering cylinder for mechanically driving a vehicle steering system, and 
 a seat for a front axle. 
 
     
     
       16. The axle carrier according to  claim 15 , wherein at least one of:
 the seat for the steering cylinder is arranged behind the seat for the front axle in a vehicle longitudinal direction, 
 the seat for the steering cylinder is arranged at least partially between the seat for the front axle and the oil sump in the vehicle longitudinal direction, 
 the steering cylinder is arranged at least partially under the oil sump, and 
 the steering cylinder runs at least partially in a clearance of the oil sump. 
 
     
     
       17. The axle carrier according to  claim 9 , wherein the axle carrier has a seat for a front axle, and one of:
 the seat for the front axle is situated partially below the flange face of the axle carrier to achieve a short wheelbase, or 
 the front axle is arranged at a small spacing (a) from a front end of the flange face of the axle carrier in order to achieve a short wheelbase, the spacing (a) in the vehicle longitudinal direction being smaller than one of 80 cm or 80%of the length of the flange face of the axle carrier in a vehicle longitudinal direction. 
 
     
     
       18. The axle carrier according to  claim 17 , wherein the spacing (a) in the vehicle longitudinal direction is smaller than one of 20 cm or 20%of the length of the flange face of the axle carrier in the vehicle longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       19. A motor vehicle, comprising:
 an oil sump of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, and 
 a front axle carrier, 
 the oil sump having a first flange face for a first mechanical connection of the oil sump to a corresponding flange face of the front axle carrier of the vehicle and a second flange face for a second mechanical connection of the oil sump to the internal combustion engine, wherein the first flange face of the oil sump is inclined obliquely at least partially relative to a horizontal direction, the flange face of the axle carrier being connected mechanically to the first flange face of the oil sump by a threaded fastener connection.